From 1985 to 1990, Maura Jasper was the go-to artist for “ear-bleeding country” trio Dinosaur Jr. From "Repulsion" to their self-titled debut LP, from You're Living All Over Me to "Freak Scene," from Bug to "Just Like Heaven,” and on posters, videos, and t-shirts, the Dinosaur Jr. look was born of Jasper's love for Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch and English anarchist Gee Vaucher. Collected inside are Dinosaur Jr.'s first four singles, a bonus fifth 7" pairing "Show Me The Way" with a cover of the Byrds' "Feel A Whole Lot Better," plus a Jasper-penned essay on her creative process and a book of unused work from the period. Limited to 5000 copies.

I Bet on Sky is the third Dinosaur Jr. album since the original trio ? J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph ? reformed in 2005. And, crazily, it marks the band’s 10th studio album since their debut on Homestead Records in 1985. Back in the ‘80s, if anyone has suggested that these guys would be performing and recording at such a high level 27 years later, they would have been laughed out of the tree fort.

The trio has taken everything they’ve learned from the various projects they tackled over the years, and poured it directly into their current mix. J’s guitar approaches some of its most unhinged playing here, but there’s a sense of instrumental control that matches the sweet murk of his vocals (not that he always remembers to exercise control on stage, but that’s another milieu). This is head-bobbing riff-romance at the apex. Lou’s basswork shows a lot more melodicism now as well, although his two songs on I Bet on Sky retain the jagged rhythmic edge that has so often marked his work. And Murph?well, he still pounds the drums as hard and as strong as a pro wrestler, with deceptively simple structures that manage to interweave themselves perfectly with his bandmates’ melodic explosions.

After submerging myself in I Bet on Sky, it’s clear that the album is a true and worthy addition to the Dinosaur Jr. discography. It hews close enough to rock formalism to please the squares. Yet it is brilliantly imprinted with the trio’s magical equation, which is a gift to the rest of us. For a combo that began as anomalous fusion of hardcore punk and pop influences, Dinosaur Jr. have proven themselves to be unlikely masters of the long game.

Jagjaguwar is honored to reissue the band's first three albums, Dinosaur, You're Living All Over Me & Bug, on vinyl this October. Originally released on the venerable Homestead and SST labels in the 1980's, the reissues stay true to form and include the cardinal track lists.

Jagjaguwar is honored to reissue the band's first three albums, Dinosaur, You're Living All Over Me & Bug, on vinyl this October. Originally released on the venerable Homestead and SST labels in the 1980's, the reissues stay true to form and include the cardinal track lists.

Pieces marks the second single from Farm, Dinosaur Jr's critically acclaimed long-player on Jagjaguwar. Featuring more bizarro artwork from renowned poster artist Marq Spusta, the Pieces 7" includes an exclusive b-side of Dinosaur Jr's cover of Houses, originally written & recorded by Elyse in 1968.

The worry about the reunion of the original Dinosaur Jr. line-up, more than 20 years after their formation and legendary dissolution, was that these guys were just flogging the back catalog as a marketing gimmick. With the release of Beyond, in 2007, the band gave a hearty Marshall-driven "F**K YOU!" answer to those inquiring ears. Restoring the sound established by the opening hat-trick gambit of Dinosaur, You're Living All Over Me, and Bug, the Beyond record continued the band's march into rock greatness by making old ears smile and new ears bleed afresh. And now comes Farm, the fifth full length record by the original line-up-J Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph--set to release on their new label home Jagjaguwar on June 23rd.

If Beyond was Dinosaur Jr.'s return to form, Farm is proof that this band continues to deliver that which makes rock worth cranking to 11. At times wholly 70's guitar-epic, at times perfect for sitting by a babbling brook with Joni and Neil, Farm encompasses Dinosaur Jr.'s signature palette - soaring and distorted guitar, unshakable hooks, honey-rich melodies - songs that get into your head and, bouncing around happily, stay there. The ear-catching "Plans" is nearly 7 minutes of classic whipped-topping rock dessert, while "I Don't Wanna Go There" is a meat-and-potatoes main dish, mixing unapologetic lead guitar with straight-ahead delivery a la James Gang or Humble Pie. These two tunes round out twelve tracks propelled by the unique energy of one of America's greatest living rock bands hitting their stride.

Farm was recorded in J Mascis' Bisquiteen studio in Amherst, Massachusetts, and was produced by Mascis.